Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docalalbu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Docalalbu’, characterized by its outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large flowers with light yellow-colored petals with greenish yellow-colored centers and venation; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa parviflora.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOCALALBU’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR AND APPLICANT

The Inventor and Applicant assert that no sales, publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or the Applicant. Inventor and Applicant claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa parviflora and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Docalalbu’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching and early-flowering Calibrachoa plants with numerous large and attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2015 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA14-006364-004, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA14-008786-005, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2019.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Docalalbu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Docalalbu’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large flowers with light yellow-colored petals with greenish         yellow-colored centers and venation.     -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Calibrachoa have light yellow-colored petals with greenish yellow-colored centers and venation whereas plants of the female parent selection have pink-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Calibrachoa have light yellow-colored petals with greenish yellow-colored centers and venation whereas plants of the male parent selection have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoa spp. ‘Cal Yel’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,464. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘Cal Yel’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as broad as plants of         ‘Cal Yel’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Cal Yel’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have taller flowers than plants         of ‘Cal Yel’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Cal Yel’ differ in flower         color as plants of the new Calibrachoa have lighter         yellow-colored flowers than plants of ‘Cal Yel’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Docalalbu’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Docalalbu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 22-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were twelve weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa parviflora ‘Docalalbu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number             AA14-006364-004, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number             AA14-008786-005, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading to trailing and             decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit with about             five primary lateral branches each with about seven             secondary lateral branches developing per plant; pinching             enhances branching; dense and full appearance; vigorous             growth habit; moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 25             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 25             cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread of plant).—About 56 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 25 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.25 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing             and decumbent.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 144C; at the internodes, close to             144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after             flowering, opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 2.75 cm.         -   Width.—About 8 mm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;             matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146B; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146C; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 220 flowers and flower buds per plant; flowers face             upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about six             weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the             spring throughout the summer in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 3.4 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Rippled;             semi-glossy. Color: Close to 151C.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6.3 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 1.8 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.6 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to 5C. Petal, when             opening, lower surface: Close to 5B. Petal, fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 6C; towards the throat, closer to 6A             to 6B; venation, close to 151A; ground color becoming closer             to 4C with development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 6D; venation, close to 151A; color becoming closer             to 4B with development. Throat: Close to 151B; venation,             close to 152A. Tube: Close to 151C; venation, close to 152A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.3 cm. Sepal             width: About 2.5 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color: When             developing, upper surface: Close to 144A. When developing,             lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully developed, upper             surface: Close to 143B. Fully developed, lower surface:             Close to 143C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close             to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C.             Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther             color: Close to 7A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 17A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 8.5 mm. Style length: About 7.5 mm. Style             color: Close to 144C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma             shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary             color: Close to 144B. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant:             About 300 per plant. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 199B.             Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 40. Length: About 1 mm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 200A. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain,     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docalalbu’ as illustrated and described. 